GLOBAL MX-5 CUP: Sparks rebounds in Race 2

The American MX-5 Cup ace held off John Dean II (-0.285), who finished third on Saturday as most of the Round 1 podium carried over to the Round 2 finale. Yuui Tsutsumi completed the top three (-2.085) and also claimed the best finish for a field deep in international talent.

Round 1 winner Robby Foley was running in third place before his car slowed and stopped; a transmission problem was suspected as the issue that resulted in a 13th-place finish.

With a second on Saturday and a win on Sunday, Sparks – affectionately known as "Sparky – won the prize on offer from Mazda for achieving the best average result across the double-header. He'll receive a day in the Mazda/Multimatic simulator driving the Japanese brand's IMSA Prototype to prepare for whatever opportunities might lie ahead.

"My team and I looked at the points last night and figured out what needed to be done," Sparks said. "The hard part was executing it. I got out there and took an early lead because I knew my only hope was to get Robby battling and hopefully, get him shuffled back because there are so many great drivers here that's easy to happen. I kept my head down and I think I ran as best as I could the whole race. But, man... 30 laps at Mazda Raceway is something to be proud of."

The top five overall finishers, from combined points were as follows:

1. Nathanial Sparks, USA, Sick Sideways Racing, 121

2. John Dean II, USA, Sick Sideways Racing, 109

3. Robby Foley, USA, Atlanta Motorsports Group, 98

4. Moritz Kranz, Germany, Copeland Motorsports, 98

5. Yuui Tsutsumi, Japan, Copeland Motorsports, 96